Helen Kelly's application to use so-called medical marijuana has been rejected by the Ministry of Health.

'I'm using cannabis for medicinal use - I'd like to use it lawfully'

The federal government is introducing legislation to parliament to allow the cultivation and use of medicinal cannabis under a national framework today.

The move follows Victoria’s announcement last year that it will legalise the drug for medical use in 2017. NSW is also currently conducting trials into a cannabis-based drug, Epidolex, with a focus on children with epilepsy, and leading the state-based focus on medical marijuana.

With various countries and American states on the path to the legalisation of marijuana – both medical and not – questions surrounding its effects on our health are as relevant as ever. Some debate its potential medicinal benefits and its low risks in terms of overdosing make it a ‘safe drug’ that should be legally accessible. On the other hand, some worry about the message of allowing drug use and the health dangers we may not be aware of yet. But the issue of legalisation is complex and must take many more factors into consideration.

according to the latest National Drug Strategy Household Survey, an increasing number of women are smoking weed daily.

Of the 1.9 million Australians over 14 who have smoked cannabis in the past year, only 700,000 of them are women.

But women are now more likely to be daily smokers, with 14% of women smoking weed daily, compared to 12% of men.

Jan Copeland is the head of the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre at the University of New South Wales and says women tend to become addicted to cannabis more quickly than men.

"Estrogen seems to increase sensitivity to THC, the getting high part of cannabis, and because of that they crave to use it more often,"

Former union boss Helen Kelly has written to Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne to seek permission to use medicinal cannabis.

Ms Kelly, who has lung cancer, said she hoped her application would be granted as soon as possible.

"[Dunne] said it took him an hour once he got the last application, so I'm hoping to hear today," she said.

Ms Kelly is already using cannabis oil to ease her pain, and said the drug had been "brilliant" for helping with nausea, lost appetite, and pain relief following chemotherapy.
"I want it in a form that is metered," she said. "The product that I've applied for has got a much weaker strength in the daytime and a stronger strength at night.She now wants a legal, regular supply of the drug.

In light of recent and increasing commentary on the use, access to and funding of cannabis based medical products, attached is a fact sheet on the definition, current availability, status and authorisation process around the use of these products for therapeutic purposes. Further information can be found on the Ministry of health’s website at:http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/medicines-control/medicinal-cannabis

Status of Medical Cannabis in New Zealand

A small number of children with drug-resistant epilepsy will soon be able to access a new cannabis-based drug in New South Wales which is showing promise in relieving the symptoms.

The pharmaceutical drug, Epidolex, is still in a trial phase and has not yet received full approval from authorities, but the Government has now set the date of March for a compassionate access scheme to begin.

Last year, the NSW Government approached the company that makes the drug, the UK's GW Pharmaceuticals, to see if trials could be arranged in NSW.

Pru Goward, the Minister for Medical Research, said the scheme was great news for families who had children with the condition.

Medicinal cannabis users are looking for rides to a protest site on the New South Wales north coast, claiming they are too fearful to drive themselves.

Supporters of the medical use of the drug believe they are vulnerable now police are doing frequent road-side saliva tests.

Lismore resident Ron Jones has been using medicinal cannabis for six years to help with chronic pain and emphysema.

He wants to meet with the Member for Lismore, Thomas George, to talk about legislative change for those using the drug for health issues.

"I rely totally on a car to get around and I just need to go and talk to Thomas George and find out more information on what I can do to survive," Mr Jones said.

Naomi* smokes a couple of bongs in the morning after her two-year-old son has been fed and clothed. Once he is asleep at night, she smokes about 20 more. 

The 29-year-old says she wakes up feeling fresh the next day. She pays her bills, sticks to a routine and never smokes in front of her son.

With cannabis, "everything is that little bit more pleasant," Naomi says. But without it, her body begins to shake and anxiety takes over. "I couldn't ever imagine anything worse than going without marijuana," she says.

A recent Australian study examines a large sample of patients with chronic pain who have been prescribed a treatment with opioids. The objectives include the analysis of the mode of simultaneous intake of cannabis and opioids, its effects on patients suffering from chronic pain and the relationships between demographic and clinical data.